AP PSYCHOLOGY- Unit 0 Terms~ part 1(first 30 terms)

Critical Thinking

Thinking that does not automatically accept arguments and conclusions. Rather it examines assumptions appraises the source discerns, hidden biases, evaluate evidence and assess conclusions

Hindsight Bias

The tendency to believe after learning an outcome, that one could have foreseen it.

Confirmation Bias

A tendency to search for information that supports our preconceptions, and to ignore or distort contradictory evidence

overconfidence

The tendency to be more confident than correct—to overestimate the accuracy of our beliefs and judgments

Peer reviewers

Scientific experts, who evaluate a research article’s theory, originality, and accuracy

theory

an explanation, using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts events

hypothesis

A testable prediction often implied by a theory

falsifiable

The possibility that an idea, hypothesis, or theory can be disproven by observation or experiment

operation definition

A carefully worded statement of the exact procedures or operations used in a research study. human intelligence may be operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures

replication

repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations to see whether basics findings would be produced

case study

A non-experimental technique in which one individual or group is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles

meta-analysis

The statistical procedure for analyzing the results of multiple studies to reach an overall conclusion

naturalistic observation

A non-experimental technique of observing and recording behavior naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate or control the situation

survey

the non-experimental technique for obtaining self reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group. usually by questioning a representative (random sample) of the group.

social desirability bias

bias from people’s responding in ways they presume a researcher expects or wishes

self reported bias

bias where people report their behavior inaccurately

experimenter bias

bias caused when a researcher may unintentionally influence results to confirm their own beliefs

population

all those in a group being studied from which samples may be drawn

sample

a subset of individuals selected from a larger population to be included in a study.

sample bias

a flawed sampling process that produces an unrepresentative sample.

random sample

a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion.

convenience sampling

collecting research from a group that is readily available

representative sample

a group that represents what you are trying to study

experimental methodolgy

a scientific procedure that involves manipulating variables to test a hypothesis and establish cause-and-effect relationships.

non-experimental methodology

a method that doesn’t manipulate or control variables, and instead relies on observational, descriptive, or correlational data.

correlation

a measure of the extent to which 2 factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other.

correlation coefficient

a statistical index of the relationship between 2 things

variable

anything that can vary and is feasible and ethical to measure

scatterplot

a graphed cluster of dots each of which represents the values of 2 variables. slope represents direction. amount of scatter represents correlation.

illusory correlation

perceiving a relationship where none exists, or perceiving a stronger than actual relationship.